Odisha is experiencing severe winter conditions as the cold wave tightens its hold across the state. Jharsuguda town marked a historic low of 5.1°C on Tuesday — the coldest January temperature recorded in the region since 1953, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Manorama Mohanty, head of the regional IMD centre in Bhubaneswar, confirmed that this breaks a 73-year-old record.

On Wednesday, Jharsuguda again reported the state’s lowest temperature at 7.4°C. Other regions also witnessed significant drops: Keonjhar recorded 9.2°C, Balasore 11.2°C, and Chandbali and Paradeep each registered 12.4°C. Bhubaneswar shivered at 11.4°C— a steep fall of 7.2°C compared to earlier days.

The Regional Meteorological Centre attributes the ongoing cold wave to persistent dry and chilly northerly winds sweeping into Odisha. Over the next three days, night temperatures may dip further by 1 to 1.5°C. The IMD has also warned of worsening cold conditions in hilly as well as coastal regions, and predicted dense fog in several areas during this period.